The 27-year-old underwent groin surgery in July and was expected to return to action last month, but he is now at least three weeks away from action.

Robinson told the Milton Keynes Citizen: "[Bowditch] was finding it difficult with the setbacks he was having, and he was getting frustrated. This was an acute injury and it has taken longer than we thought.

"We gave him time off, to get away from football, he's got his head straight and he's back training with the boys.

"We'll monitor him, but we have got a date in mind. It'll be one of the biggest games of the season, and we might give him five or 10 minutes."